Erin Lodes

When you write a scene and realize your entire first draft is mostly backstory…

(1) Denial

*stares at computer with horrified expression* There’s no way I’ve done all this writing and it won’t end up in the book. I’m sure there’s a way to fix all these problems with the plot and the tension without changing where the story starts. There’s definitely a way to fix this. I’ll just read through everything I have and stare at my plot long enough and surely another solution will present itself. *sits diligently at laptop and tries to solve problem*

(2) Anger

*throws notebook and laptop across the room* There’s no way I’ve done all this writing and it won’t end up in the book! This is ridiculous and stupid and agh! Forget this book! I’ll start work on the next one! *screams at the sky and curses the writing gods*

(3) Bargaining

*sits on the floor taping pieces of paper back together while praying that laptop will actually turn back on* Maybe if I just adjust these plot points and add a wacky twist at the end it will still work? Can I just start the story where I need to and then make the whole first half or so a big long flashback? That could work right? *rereads book yet again and tears out hair*

(4) Depression

*turns off computer and shuts notebook* I’m never writing again. I should have known this from the start. I thought I had it plotted all out but turns out I have no idea what I’m doing and I never will and all this is useless. I’m wasting my time trying to carve something out of nothing. What was I thinking, pretending I could be a writer? *eats ice cream, drinks wine, marathons Netflix*

(5) Acceptance

*walks back into office with a superhero pose* Most of this won’t end up in the book. But at least I figured that out before I tried to sell a shitty book. At least I spent all this time getting to know my characters and their past, which is super important to their present. I’m starting over but not from scratch. Some of this will still be usable. Some of it can be repurposed and some of it can be flashbacks. *takes a deep breath and takes down everything off plot-corkboards and starts again*

I’m at stage five now people. Let’s do this.

Anyway that just happens to be how I feel about it. What do you think?